System and methods for enhancing operation of a graphical user interface

Abstract

A video services receiver system for providing video content to a display for viewing by a customer is presented here. The video services receiver system includes a receiver interface configured to receive data associated with video services, and a display interface for the display. The display interface provides a graphical interactive programming interface for the video services, the programming interface having a plurality of user-selectable elements. The video services receiver system also includes an audio interface configured to generate audio signals associated with operation of the video services receiver system. A processor of the system detects selection of one of the user-selectable elements, which results in a selected element. In response to selection of an element, the processor initiates generation of audio with the audio interface, the audio conveying content associated with the selected element. The processor may also initiate zooming in on the focused element in the graphical interactive programming interface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of presenting information associated with graphical user interfaces, the method comprising:
 providing a graphical user interface having a plurality of user-selectable elements;   detecting focus of one of the user-selectable elements, which corresponds to a focused element; and   in response to detecting focus, initiating an audible representation of content associated with the focused element.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising rendering text with the focused element, wherein the audible representation of content comprises an audible annunciation of the text. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising converting the text into synthesized speech using a text-to-speech converter, wherein the audible annunciation comprises the synthesized speech. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising maintaining an audio file for the focused element, wherein initiating the audible representation of content comprises accessing the audio file. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising executing playback of the audio file. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising transmitting the audio file to a remote device, wherein the remote device executes playback of the audio file. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the graphical user interface is a program listing for a video services system; and   the plurality of user-selectable elements includes elements selected from the group consisting of: a menu name; a menu descriptor; a programming channel number; a programming channel name; a network name; a service provider name; a current date; a current time; a program start time; a program end time; a program time slot; a program title; a program content description; a recording control element; a receiver or tuner name or identifier; a time available for recording; an event duration; a lock status; and a playback control element.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising magnifying the focused element in the graphical user interface. 
     
     
         9 . A video services receiver system for providing video content to a display for viewing by a customer, the video services receiver system comprising:
 a receiver interface configured to receive data associated with video services;   a display interface for the display, the display interface providing a graphical interactive programming interface for the video services, the programming interface having a plurality of user-selectable elements;   an audio interface configured to generate audio signals associated with operation of the video services receiver system; and   a processor coupled to the receiver interface, the display interface, and the audio interface, the processor being configured to detect selection of one of the user-selectable elements, which results in a selected element, and the processor being configured to initiate generation of audio with the audio interface, the audio conveying content associated with the selected element.   
     
     
         10 . The video services receiver system of  claim 9 , wherein the selected element includes text displayed therewith, and the audio includes an audible annunciation of the text. 
     
     
         11 . The video services receiver system of  claim 10 , further comprising a text-to-speech converter coupled to the processor, wherein the text-to-speech converter translates the text into synthesized speech, and wherein the audible annunciation comprises the synthesized speech. 
     
     
         12 . The video services receiver system of  claim 9 , further comprising a memory element that stores audio files corresponding to the user-selectable elements. 
     
     
         13 . The video services receiver system of  claim 12 , wherein the processor initiates the generation of audio by accessing the audio files. 
     
     
         14 . The video services receiver system of  claim 9 , further comprising a remote control transceiver coupled to the processor, wherein the remote control transceiver transmits the audio files to a remote device, and wherein the remote device executes playback of the audio file. 
     
     
         15 . A method of presenting information associated with graphical user interfaces, the method comprising:
 providing a graphical user interface having a plurality of user-selectable elements;   detecting focus of one of the user-selectable elements, which corresponds to a focused element; and   in response to detecting focus, graphically magnifying the focused element in the graphical user interface.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein graphically magnifying the focused element occurs automatically in response to detecting focus, and without any user involvement. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising receiving a user confirmation in response to detecting focus, wherein graphically magnifying the focused element occurs in response to receiving the user confirmation. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 detecting loss of focus of the focused element; and   in response to detecting loss of focus, removing graphical magnification of the focused element.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising initiating an audible representation of content associated with the focused element. 
     
     
         20 . A video services receiver system for providing video content to a display for viewing by a customer, the video services receiver system comprising:
 a receiver interface configured to receive data associated with video services;   a display interface for the display, the display interface providing a graphical interactive programming interface for the video services, the programming interface having a plurality of user-selectable elements; and   a processor coupled to the receiver interface and to the display interface, the processor being configured to detect selection of one of the user-selectable elements, which results in a selected element, and the processor being configured to initiate zooming in on the focused element in the graphical interactive programming interface.   
     
     
         21 . The video services receiver system of  claim 20 , the processor being configured to:
 detect loss of focus of the focused element; and   in response to the loss of focus, initiate zooming out on the focused element.   
     
     
         22 . The video services receiver system of  claim 20 , wherein:
 the focused element includes text rendered therewith; and   zooming in on the focused element results in magnification of the text.